Chasing Freedom: Histories, Analyses and Voices of Student Activism in South Africa

This book covers diverse histories of student movements in post-apartheid South Africa, taking note of the historical moment of the 1976 student uprisings and the evolution of student activism since that seminal event. Decolonization and reform of the higher education sector are important themes of the book. The volume aims to understand how student movements comprehend and articulate demands for the process of decolonization and Africanization of the curriculum, their transformative effect on the university and the role that a decolonized and African university should play in South African society’s pursuit of freedom. The book explores transformation of universities specifically with regard to race, gender, patriarchy, sexuality, and people living with disabilities in relation to student experiences. The book also deals with aspects related to institutional racism, funding, class, access, violence, and student services. It explores the nature of contemporary student mobilization as a quest for education as freedom in a democratic country, deconstructing the Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall movements that have reignited interest in the role of student activism in South African society. This book is timeless and timely: celebrating and critiquing student activism in transforming higher education, society and our times.